GREEN TEA MILK BUNS

This is a lightly sweetened, milk rich soft buns

with 

Green tea added for extra flavor

and

filled with red bean paste 

to imitate the Japanese Soft filled Buns

A recipe adapted from

Goh NgaiLeng's Sweet Milk Buns

Green Tea Milk Buns

175g (1 egg+fresh milk)

20g condensed milk

3/4 tsp instant yeast

225g bread flour

20g cake flour

5g green tea powder

40g sugar

1/4 tsp salt

30g butter

Filling: 200g red bean paste

Topping: fresh milk for brushing & black sesame seed as topping

1. all ingredients into the bread machine, bread dough cycle 1.5Hrs

2. punch down & divide into 9 portions, shape into balls

3. wrap each dough with filling & place on a parchment lined 18cm square pan

4. let rise 60min, or until double in size

5. wash with fresh milk & decorate with black sesame seeds

6. bake in preheated oven 170'C for 30-35min

7. transfer to wire rack to cool

FOOCHOW BOK CHOW GEA

BOK CHOW GEA

This is a popular dish

among the Foochow community in Sitiawan

My mom who is 86 years old,

cooked this dish for us

although she has not been cooking for quite awhile!

We meant to help her,

but 

she insisted that we need to learn her traditional way!

I have specifically noted down 

her instructions and explanations for your reference...

1 kampung chicken

1/4 cup old ginger, minced

2 Tbsp sesame oil

1 Tbsp corn oil

2 Tbsp rice wine residue

1/4 cup rice wine

soya sauce, pepper & sugar to taste

1. cut chicken into bite size pieces so that the flavour can go right into the meat

2. heat wok, add 2 types oil & fry ginger.  Ginger must be fried until fragrant 

    & a bit brown to get the most flavour

3. add chicken pieces, tossing & frying until meat shrinks

4. add rice wine residue & continue frying.  At this stage add 1 cup water,

    washing down from the sides of the wok! Stir fry & cover the wok, 

    allow to cook for awhile.

5. open the cover to check if the water has been absorbed. If so, add another

    1/2-1 cup water. add soya sauce & pepper to taste. Salt is optional. 

    Cover and cook again.

6. If the chicken is cooked, add sugar to taste & pour in the rice wine. Dish up.

Note:

1) sugar is not added with the seasoning because she does not want it to caramel

    & change the taste of 'Chow'

2) wine is added last so that it does not evaporate so much, so you will get 

    the taste of red rice wine!

FOOCHOW FRIED MUANG NGI

Foochow Poo Muang Ngi

Fuzhou people like to eat shark and sea eel, better known as Muang Ngi

These are sometimes 

salted and used in Foochow Delicacies, usually soups

As such,

many of the local Foochow also cook these,

especially those elder generations

Muang Ngi is yellow in colour

 as shown in the cut chunk in my photo below.

As the name implies

these sea eels are long & weigh from 4-10 kg.

So, normally they are sold in chunks in the market.

Muang Ngi is meaty,

with a lot of bones.

Fortunately, these bones are long and can be easily removed.

Foochow people in China

scrape the meat from the sea eels to make into paste.

Thereby, use it to make the famous 

Foochow Fish Balls 

These Fish Balls are special

because it has pork filling inside!!

Another popular way of cooking the sea eel 

is to fry it in rice wine residue or 'chow'.

If you are lucky

you may still be able to order it,

 in a few of the restaurants in Sitiawan

A simple dish

but loved by many of us.

Poo Muang Ngi
1 chunk muang Ngi
chow (rice wine residue)
salt & pepper to taste
corn flour for coating

1. remove the centre bone. Slice the muang Ngi lengthwise so that you will not
cut across the bones. This way the bones will remain long and can be easily removed
while eating. Cut into the size of your fingers.
2. marinate fish with chow, salt & pepper to taste, leave aside.
3. heat up 1 cup oil for frying
4. coat fish pieces with corn flour, shaking off the excess flour. Fry in hot oil,
    turning to make sure it cooks evenly.
5. remove when cooked, serve.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIE

Brownies

are easy to make and nice to eat

whether on its own

or

warmed & added a scoop of ice-cream

My grand daughter's all time favourite

I have adapted the recipe from Asiya Gal's

Double Chocolate Brownie

A: 200g dark chocolate, chopped

     80g salted butter

B: 2 large eggs

    120g brown sugar

    1/2 tsp vanilla essence

C: sifted together

    86g plain flour

    34g cocoa powder

    1/2 tsp baking powder

1) double boil (A), stir until chocolate has dissolved, let cool

2) beat (B) until creamy

3) slowly add (A) to egg mixture

4) slowly fold in sifted ingredients (C)

5) spread evenly in 6" lined square pan and bake in preheated oven

    of 160'C for 40min.  Leave brownie in oven with oven door slightly

    ajar for another 10min 

6) cool well before cutting

FOOCHOW THOUSAND LAYER PAU

Steamed Paus 
are popular among the Foochow community in Sitiawan

Be it plain, savory or sweet
they like them all alike

The most popular one is no doubt 
Pillow Pau 
枕頭包
which is shaped like a pillow
with filling inside
http://my-humblekitchen.blogspot.my/2015/02/jianau-pau-pillow-bun.html

Another popular sweet pau is

Thousand Layer Koh

千層糕 or 千葉糕

When spoken in Foochow

'Ching Aik Koh'

Sounds like 

親熱糕

Today, they are fondly called
'moh moh'
where more types of filling are added


These paus are only out of the steamer after 2 pm everyday,
but usually sold out before Tea Break ends!

Sonia has shared her recipe here

Dough

350g pau flour
1 tsp double action baking powder
1 tsp instant yeast
40g sugar
10g shortening
200g water, adjust accordingly

Filling: 
125g roasted peanuts, ground
40g sugar
60g melon strips, chopped
10g corn oil

Method:
1) all dough ingredients go into bread machine, knead for 15-20 min
    until smooth, let rest 15 min
2) divide dough into 5 parts of 100g each
3) roll flat each ball into a square to fit the base of a lined 6" square pan. 
4) spread 1 square onto the base of the pan, fit the corners well
5) spread 1/4 of the filling onto this 1st layer of dough
6) cover the filling with a new layer of dough, top with 1/4 filling again
7) repeat step 6 until all the dough has been laid into the pan
8) put the pan into the steamer and let rise 20-25 min until double 
9) steam over high heat for 25-28min from cold water
10) turn off gas, and leave in steamer for 5min before removing 

CHRYSANTHEMUM TEA

Chrysanthemum Flower

is used in ancient Chinese medicine

It is a natural coolant

that helps in lowering the body temperature

besides quenching thirst

and 

detoxifying the body

Some believe that it helps to strengthen the immune system
yet others 
say that it improves the complexion 

Chrysanthemum Tea

50g chrysanthemum flowers

1 litre water

honey 

1. bring to boil the flowers & water

2. brief simmer for 5 min, let cool

3. strain & sweeten with honey

1st Steep

2nd Steep

You may also add boiling water to chrysanthemum buds and wolfberry
as shown in the 2 pictures above
and leave aside to steep

It is a remedy for tired eyes
and it will also clear stickiness in the eyes
of elderly

GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY

Growing Old is not always well accepted
Many dread to be at this stage of life
It is like approaching the finish line
There is nothing one can do
but slowly being dragged into it!

Old is said to be at a stage of unproductivity
How true is this, in this advancing society?
Why the retirement age has been raised?
Do you realize that your contribution still matters?
So, let us prepare ourselves to face the new phase of life

Look at the world. Is it dwelling on the past? No!
No one likes to hear your past achievements,
neither do they take your regrets into consideration
The windscreen is meant for you to see clearly what is to come
while the rear mirror is just a reflection of the past

If you think that your age is your 'Pass' to gain respects & rights
Think twice! Some may think you are a hindrance
Be grateful if you have somebody offering a seat on trains
Give yourself a pack on the back & accept it with a word of thanks
Appreciating that there is somebody aware of your presence

Having struggled through so many fruitful years of
Living and working hard for your family,
Isn't it time to live for yourself now?
Embark on something that you have dreamed of doing
And live life to the fullest, enjoying what you may have missed.

Your children are all grown ups now and have families of their own
They are busy with their commitments just like yours before
So, do not burden them with your problems like health & relationship
Take good care of yourself & extend help whenever required
Let this saying  家有一老、如有一宝 be realized

Grandchildren are gifts from God,
They are for us to enjoy, strengthening the bond with their families
Refreshing the relationships that we once had with their parents
The closeness created gives us the sense of belonging
Blood is thicker than water afterall....

HAINAN BAO

Hainan Bao

is commonly sold in stalls by the road side,

in front of coffee shops

or in the wet markets

If you like light, fluffy and springy bao

you will like Hainan Bao

Hainan Baos

 are normally white

and come with filling of various kind,

like tau sar and kaya

I made these Hainan bao with pumpkin

and 

used the remaining pumpkin 

to make the filling

Hainan Bao

350g bao flour

1 tsp yeast

1 tsp baking powder

40g sugar

10g oil

200g water (can replace partly with mashed pumpkin)

1) all ingredients into the bread machine, dough cycle to knead for 10-15min, until smooth

2) let rest for 15min

3) divide dough into 12 portions, shape into balls, press flat & wrap filling

4) leave to rest for 20min

5) put into steamer filled with cold water, cover & turn on fire to medium & steam for 20min

6) when ready, leave in steamer for 3-5 min before opening the cover & removing the bao

Filling:

340g mashed pumpkin

100g sugar

40g oil

2 tsp pandan juice

1) put 1/2 the sugar into the wok & add oil, heat up without stirring

2) when the colour of sugar turns light brown, mix well

3) add the remaining sugar, pumpkin & pandan juice

4) stirring at low heat until the mixture thickens 

5) let cool in fridge before using

YAM RICE

Yam Rice

Another of my favourite 

One Pot Rice

Easily cooked and flavorful

If you like to try

these are the ingredients:

Yam Rice

1 cup rice, rinsed & drained

4-5 shallots, sliced

1 cup yam, cut into cubes

1 Tbsp dried shrimps, cleaned & soaked 

2 Tbsp sliced mushroom

Either : marinated boneless chicken or pork belly, cut in cubes

             or roast pork/char siew, cut in cubes

             or chinese sausage, sliced

             or any 2 of the above

Seasoning: soya sauce, oyster sauce, dark soya sauce

                  salt & pepper to taste

Topping: Fried shallots & cut chili

1) heat up wok with 3 Tbsp oil, fry shallots until crispy, remove

2) add yam cubes & fry until slightly golden, remove

3) remove some oil & fry the dried shrimps. Keep the water from soaking shrimps

4) add mushroom slices & raw meat if using

5) add rice & seasoning. Add some water from the soak water of shrimps if too dry

6) pour the whole lot into the rice cooker or steamer, if you are using

7) add enough water to cook the rice, make sure the rice is just covered with water

8) On top, add char siew, roast pork, chinese sausage & yam

9) when cooked, stir with a pair of chopsticks to mix

CRISPY CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Some people like it chewy

while others like it crispy

If you like crispy Chocolate Cookies

with soft chocolates inside

this is for you

I have adapted the recipe from eileen

Crispy Chocolate Cookies

270g plain flour

30g cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

170g butter

110g brown sugar

60g caster sugar

1 egg

1 egg yolk

1 tsp vanilla

60g chocolate chips

1) sift flour together with baking soda, cocoa powder. Add salt & mix well

2) melt butter, remove from heat & add sugars

3) stir until sugars dissolved. Leave to cool

4) add egg to butter mixture & whisk

5) add vanilla

6) fold in flour & mix in chocolate chips

7) spoon onto lined baking sheet

8) bake in preheated oven @ 175'C for 15-20 min

9) store in air tight containers

FOOCHOW SOFT SPARE RIBS

福卅爛排骨

Foochow Soft Spare Ribs

is another

appetizing dish

The Sichuan preserved chili vegetable

enhance the flavour of this dish

This Sichuan preserved vegetable comes in big chunks

and 

the Foochow loves to slice it in big thin pieces,

cleaned and soaked to remove some of the saltiness

then only added to the dish

Many of the old people simply loves its taste

I am suppose to slice it in big slices to line the base of the dish

but 

I have cut it into strips instead

Foochow Soft Spare Ribs

350g pork ribs, chopped into bite size

4 shallots, sliced

1 tsp corn flour (tenderizer)

1 tsp soya sauce

2 Tbsp self -raising flour
1 ball Sichuan preserved Vegetable, sliced thinly

Sauce: 1 tsp oyster sauce

            1 Tbsp tomato sauce

            1/2 tsp sugar
            1/2 tsp soya sauce

            1/2 cup water

            salt & pepper to taste

1. marinate pork ribs with soya sauce, pepper & corn flour for 1/2 hour
2. arrange pieces of Sichuan vegetable at the bottom of  a steaming bowl

3. combine all sauce ingredients in another bowl

4. heat oil in a wok for deep frying the pork ribs

5. stir in 2 Tbsp of self raising flour to the marinated pork ribs & deep fry until half cooked

5. remove pork ribs & arrange the pieces closely together, on top of the Sichuan vegetables

6. Pour away the oil. No need to wash the wok, add shallots & fry

7. pour in the sauce mixture and allow to boil

8. pour sauce over the pork ribs & steam for 40-60min until soft

9. overturn the bowl over a serving dish & serve

FOOCHOW FRIED PORK RIBS

福州炒排骨

Foochow people love sweet and sour dishes.

This is the reason

why so many of their favourite dishes 

are sweet and sour.

Fried pork ribs in sweet and sour sauce

is a popular dish served in Sitiawan Restaurants.

It is served with some pickled cucumber by the side of the dish.

Sometimes,

they just put some sliced cucumber at the bottom of the plate

before placing the fried pork ribs on top.

Unfortunately,

these days you hardly can find the original fried pork ribs served this way!

Today, 

many new restaurants there serve fried pork ribs with French Fries!

If you wish to cook an authentic 

Foochow Fried Pork Ribs,

just follow the recipe below:

Foochow Fried Pork Ribs

350g pork ribs, chopped into bite size

1 big onions, cut into quarters

1 tsp corn flour (tenderizer)

1 tsp soya sauce

2 Tbsp self -raising flour

Sauce: 1 tsp oyster sauce

            2 Tbsp tomato sauce

            1/2 tsp sugar

            1/3 cup water

            salt & pepper to taste

1. marinate pork ribs with soya sauce, pepper & corn flour for 1/2 hour

2. combine sauce ingredients: oyster sauce, tomato sauce, sugar & water 

3. heat oil in a wok for deep frying the pork ribs

4. stir in 2 Tbsp of self raising flour to the marinated pork ribs & deep fry until cooked

5. remove pork ribs & pour out the oil

6. No need to wash the wok, add the big onions & fry
7. pour in the sauce mixture and allow to boil
8. when it boils, add the fried pork ribs & stir fry.
9. quickly remove & serve

Cucumber pickle:
1/2 cucumber
1/2 tsp salt
juice from 1/2 lemon
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 red chili, sliced

1. peel & cut cucumber lengthwise into quarters
2. slice away part of the seeds
3. slice the cucumber strips diagonally
4. marinate with salt & leave aside for 10-15 min
5. wash off the salt & squeeze dry
6. add sugar, lemon juice and cut chili & mix well
7. leave in the fridge until ready to serve

CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD

Many of us like Butter Cookies.

Some like it crunchy,

others like it crumbly.

These crumbly cookies with added dried cranberries

is welcomed by many when it was shared by Miki
 http://dingoozatfood.blogspot.my/2016/02/cranberry-shortbread.html?m=1

 Miki

If you like other dried fruits,

you can go ahead to add or replace the cranberries

Cranberry Shortbread

200g salted butter, soften

80g icing sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

300g all purpose flour

40g dried cranberries, chopped

1. Cream butter and icing sugar until light, add vanilla extract.

2. Gradually fold in sifted flour & cranberries

3. cover dough with cling wrap, keep in freezer for 1/2 to 1 hour

4. remove from freezer, slice & transfer to a lined baking tray

5. bake in preheated oven 160'C for 15-20min

PUMPKIN BAO

I fell in love

with the bright yellow Pumpkin Mantou 

that Melissa Ho Lee Cheen shared in Facebook.

The Mantou 

are so smooth and

looks so spongy and nice.

Melissa says the secret is:

choose pumpkin with orange colour flesh!

Pumpkin Bao

90g steamed pumpkin puree

330g bao flour

15g milk powder

80g sugar

60g water

15g oil

5g baking powder

3g yeast

1. All ingredients into the bread machine, knead for 1/2 an hour

2. let it rise for 15min, divide & shape into bao, or wrap filling if using

3. Let rise another 25-30min

4. Mist buns with water and steam on HIGH for 10-12 min depend on size of bao

Filling:

110g black sesame powder

60g sugar

1/4 tsp salt

4 tsp oil

50g boiling water

1. combine black sesame powder, sugar, salt & oil

2. pour boiling water over & mix well

3. put in plastic bag & leave in fridge overnight

Note: wetness of mashed pumpkin may be different in every batch,
          so you may need to adjust the liquid used in the recipe by +/- 10% 

AYAM PONGTEH

Ayam Pongteh

(Nonya Chicken Potato Stew)

I have heard so much about this Nonya dish

but have never tasted it 

until Felicia Khaw shared it in Facebook

http://rasamalaysia.com/ayam-pongteh-nyonya-chicken-and-potato-stew/#rlz6TXluSJfGyyBx.99

When I cooked it for dinner that night

To my surprise

my hubby said

"my mom used to cook this!"

I have to agree that it was very nice

Happy to share with you the recipe:

2 shallots, peeled & chopped

5 pips garlic, peeled & chopped

1 Tbsp oil

1 tsp taucheo (fermented bean sauce)

1/2 Tbsp dark soya sauce

2 tsp soya sauce

1 tsp palm sugar. chopped

1/4 chicken, cut into bite size

2 small potatoes, peeled & cut into large pieces

2 cups water

1) pound shallots & garlic into coarse paste (optional)

2) heat oil in wok, add shallots & garlice & fry until fragrant

3) add chicken pieces & potato, mix well

4) add taucheo, dark soya sauce & palm sugar, continue frying

5) add enough water to cover chicken, and bring to a boil

6) lower heat and let simmer until chicken is cooked, stirring

7) season with soy sauce to taste. serve hot with steamed rice.

CLAYPOT CHICKEN RICE

CLAYPOT CHICKEN RICE

cooked in a rice cooker

Claypot chicken rice

is a favourite one pot meal for many of us.

In Malaysia

it is easily available

either in coffee shops or food courts.

This one pot meal can easily be prepared at home

with the least fuss.

You can either use your rice cooker

or a simple steamer,

either of them works just fine

If you are interested, here is the recipe -

the ingredients are shown below:

1 chicken thigh

1/2 Chinese sausage (lap Cheong), sliced thinly

4-5 slices ginger, shredded into strips

4 shallots, shredded & fried in 1/2 Tbsp oil

1/4 tsp sesame oil

1/2 tsp dark soya sauce

1.5 tsp soya sauce

1/2 tsp oyster sauce

salt & pepper to taste

Decorate: cut spring onions & red chili

1. chop chicken into bite size, carefully remove any loose bits of bones.

2. marinate chicken with all the rest of the ingredients except the Chinese sausage.

    set aside for 30min

3. cook rice in the rice cooker. Remember to reduce the amount of water.
    This will be replenished with the chicken marinate later.
4. half way during cooking, when the water in the rice cooker starts to dry up,
    add the chicken together with the marinate sauce. Arrange Chinese sausage on top
    (so that they can remain red colour), and let the rice cooker continue cooking

5. when ready to serve, run a pair of chopsticks through the rice to mix and loosen

6. serve with spring onions & cut chili

Notes:

1) must check for loose pieces of bones if cooking for children.  

    you can even de-bone the chicken thigh

2) remember to reduce amount of water when cooking rice.

     If not your rice will be too soft.

3) To avoid chicken being too dry, it is only added half way during cooking rice. 

    This way, the chicken will remain nice & juicy